Last edit by: JDiver
AA Predeparture Beverages: When, What and Why not?
NOTE: Due to PDB service cancellation, this thread will rest until PDB resumption.
Older posts can be read in the archived thread here.NOTE: Due to PDB service cancellation, this thread will rest until PDB resumption.
Post by brc757rr, July 2015:
Originally Posted by AA policy regarding PDB
Pre-departure beverages are expected to be offered on all flights. On domestic flights, customers should be offered a beverage of choice. On international flights with bonded liquor, we offer a choice of orange juice, water, sparkling water, sparkling wine and mimosas and will fulfill requests for non alcoholic beverages of choice provided that supplies can be obtained without opening bonded carts and carriers. If pre-departure beverages cannot be served because of operational reasons, flight attendants are expected to apologize to customers and advise that beverages will be served as soon as possible after take off.
I was able to receive the exact language of the company policy from American Airlines today via Twitter regarding PDB's. I was actually quite impressed they followed up with me regarding a conversation that started a few days ago. I also received a nice note from Hector Adler who I also reached out to who said that pre-departure services were discussed at great length at a meeting late last week. Let's hope things begin to improve and if not we continue to press the FA's to follow company policy.
...
So there you have it.
...
So there you have it.
Originally Posted by RogerD408
Did a little searching on Twitter. A good hashtag could be just #PDBServed and the condition listed before that. So, something like:
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG No #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Full #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Limited #PDBServed
This allows all PDB service to be posted, good, bad, and otherwise. This should show AA that we feel this is a desired service. Maybe if someone gets energetic, a summary post could be done, maybe weekly?
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG No #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Full #PDBServed
@AmericanAir 08/18 AA123 ORG Limited #PDBServed
This allows all PDB service to be posted, good, bad, and otherwise. This should show AA that we feel this is a desired service. Maybe if someone gets energetic, a summary post could be done, maybe weekly?
Predeparture Drinks / Beverage (PDB) - When, What and Why Not? (consolidated)
#316
Join Date: May 2017
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Amb
Posts: 38
12/23/17 AA0490 PHX-OMA - Full PDB
12/28/17 AA6009 OMA-LAX - Full PDB
I guess I had good holiday travel luck!
12/28/17 AA6009 OMA-LAX - Full PDB
I guess I had good holiday travel luck!
#318
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 643
12/31/17 AA2223 ORD-LAX: no PDB.
i asked the lead FA in the first class galley, after the L1 door had shut, but before any airplane movement.
”Excuse me, could I get a Woodford PDB?”
He replied, “Oh no, we can’t serve anything on the ground, but we’ll get you something when we get up in the air.”
Note: we sat there about 10 min after the door shut and before pushback.
i asked the lead FA in the first class galley, after the L1 door had shut, but before any airplane movement.
”Excuse me, could I get a Woodford PDB?”
He replied, “Oh no, we can’t serve anything on the ground, but we’ll get you something when we get up in the air.”
Note: we sat there about 10 min after the door shut and before pushback.
#319
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: LGA, JFK, LAX, SFO
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 302
12/31/17 AA2223 ORD-LAX: no PDB.
i asked the lead FA in the first class galley, after the L1 door had shut, but before any airplane movement.
”Excuse me, could I get a Woodford PDB?”
He replied, “Oh no, we can’t serve anything on the ground, but we’ll get you something when we get up in the air.”
Note: we sat there about 10 min after the door shut and before pushback.
i asked the lead FA in the first class galley, after the L1 door had shut, but before any airplane movement.
”Excuse me, could I get a Woodford PDB?”
He replied, “Oh no, we can’t serve anything on the ground, but we’ll get you something when we get up in the air.”
Note: we sat there about 10 min after the door shut and before pushback.
#321
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: MIA
Programs: AA EXP (AC), DL G (SC), Bonvoy LTP, & IHG AMB
Posts: 1,798
#323
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: DL Diamond, AAdvantage EXP, Hyatt Explorist, HHonors Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 7,344
#324
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
I’ve heard that “we will get you whatever you want in the air” phrase ver batim before, too. It seems common on here. Is there a chance that it is an organized response to the PDB policy once AA began emphasizing it?
#326
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: lax
Posts: 3,886
It’s too bad you didn’t have a screenshot of the service flowsheet. Had the door been open, I would’ve produced that on my phone and said, “that’s a lie.”
I’ve heard that “we will get you whatever you want in the air” phrase ver batim before, too. It seems common on here. Is there a chance that it is an organized response to the PDB policy once AA began emphasizing it?
#327
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,993
oh that is the reason pmAA FA's don't do PDB?
Wonder how pmUS, UA, DL, etc etc etc are able to do it and pmAA FA's can't? Oh right, the door closes earlier on pmAA flights. Got it.
People on this thread have heard every excuse in the book from pmAA FA's on why they can't do PDB. It is just another excuse.
Wonder how pmUS, UA, DL, etc etc etc are able to do it and pmAA FA's can't? Oh right, the door closes earlier on pmAA flights. Got it.
People on this thread have heard every excuse in the book from pmAA FA's on why they can't do PDB. It is just another excuse.
#328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,212
received PDB on AUA-CLT and CLT-IAH. First leg was LUS second LAA.
Interesting - while we were offered PDB in AUA, the FA said anything except no alcohol allowed on the ground. Must be local regulation
Interesting - while we were offered PDB in AUA, the FA said anything except no alcohol allowed on the ground. Must be local regulation
#329
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Orleans (MSY)
Programs: AA EXP, IHG PLT, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Amtrak, WN
Posts: 2,617
Had you read my original post more carefully, you would’ve seen that I took the “pesky little FAR” about service items into account by mentioning “had the door still been open.” I’ve heard the “we can’t / we don’t do that” excuse before with the door open and boarding complete at T minus 20 min.
I’m in no way expecting workers to break federal regulations. I just expect people to do their jobs as outlined and contractually agreed upon. That’s not too unreasonable or capricious, is it?
I’m in no way expecting workers to break federal regulations. I just expect people to do their jobs as outlined and contractually agreed upon. That’s not too unreasonable or capricious, is it?
#330
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 2
Speaking for myself, this is neither capricious or unreasonable, but while strongly encouraged by the company, PDB service is not a contractual provision for FA’s at AA. However, contrary to your beliefs here at FlyerTalk, the vast majority of us like our jobs and take pride in what we do. We also know (per the surveys) that our first class passengers like this service and we try our best to do PDB’s (I always do, even during delays), but again, it is voluntary. Some of you seem to forget the vast majority of our customers are not subscribed to or post on FlyerTalk so the views here are somewhat skewed in a very negative way. In my opinion and I believe the internal customer service surveys (made public here somehow) show this and back me up, the majority of us do perform this voluntary service because we truly enjoy what we do and value our customers.
You may note and bring up the perceived difference between PM-LUS and PM-LAA crews when it comes to PDB service and this is probably due to a difference in our respective companies (AA and US). While I can’t speak for PM-US, at PM-AA at least, PDB service has never really been enforced by the company. This of course is changing, but it takes time to change a company’s culture. When some of my colleagues tell you they are not being paid to provide this service (incredibly rude and frustrating as it may be) it’s true. The department of labor does not consider per-diem as an acceptable form of compensation for labor performed outside of our required FAR and FAA mandated duties and responsibilities for which we are licensed and required to perform by law.
Perhaps in the next round of contract negotiations this provision will be included (along with appropriate compensation for work performed prior to aircraft movement) in the contract. While there are, admittedly, some lazy, rotten apples amongst our ranks, the vast majority of us do take pride in what we do and will continue to provide you with the service you appreciate and expect.
Our new management is reaching out and is starting to garner lots of goodwill by their actions and treatment of employees. I can already see the difference in attitudes amongst my workgroup - a lot less bitterness and more contentment as they finally feel appreciated after many decades of stagnation, ill-treatment, in-fighting and concessions.
I hope this helps to clear some confusion and misinformation out there. For my part, I thank all of you very much for your loyalty, your patience, and your continued business. I hope to see you on one of my flights in the near future.
Last edited by LunaFreya_Artois; Jan 2, 2018 at 10:35 pm